CHULA VISTA 
It didn’t take any persuading to get Linsay Cocker to sign on as a volunteer; she’d known for a long time that she wanted to help other women.

“Having four kids myself, I have heard about different friends of mine having doulas,” she said. “I’ve just always loved the whole labor and delivery process. (It’s) the fun of being in the birth, but not having any of the responsibility because you’re just there to support the mom and support the family. You don’t have any of the medical responsibility.”

Cocker, 34, lives in Chula Vista with her husband, who’s in the Navy, and their children. She went looking for a doula opportunity and found it through Hearts & Hands, the University of California San Diego’s volunteer doula program.

These volunteer birth assistants provide nonclinical support according to what each mother prefers during her child’s birth at the UCSD Medical Center. They are trained and have experience with pregnancy, labor, and childbirth, and they also provide one-on-one physical, emotional, and informational support to women during labor and birth.

This long-term volunteer work requires at least a total of 100 hours and a minimum commitment of being on call twice a month, for an average of 12 to 14 hours each time, according to the program’s website. Arrangements for doulas aren’t made in advance; when a woman or family requests a volunteer, whoever is on call will arrive.

Cocker has participated in five births since she began volunteering in April. One of her recent births taught her that she can communicate in a universal way: A mother who only spoke Spanish requested a doula, but Cocker didn’t know about the language obstacle until she’d arrived.

“I was nervous about that and not sure I was ready for that, but I went because she was in need, and I’m very glad I did,” she said. “I’ve learned that even if you don’t speak the language, you still can be there for them. It’s like the universal language of comfort.”

Part of what drew her to this sort of volunteer work is her desire to help other military wives who may be going through childbirth while away from family and friends, and maybe their spouse is deployed. She’d also like to help teen mothers who may not have parental support. The work can be challenging and tiring. Once they arrive, doulas remain until the babies are born.

“What gets me through is, ‘Yes, I may be tired, but this woman is working very hard to bring this baby into the world, so I have nothing to complain about,’” she said. “It’s just beautiful to witness the miracle of life... and to be able to comfort that woman and try to help lessen her pain.”

Do you know of a volunteer who should be in the spotlight? Contact Lisa Deaderick at (619) 293-2503, or lisa.deaderick@utsandiego.com